History

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it...” Whilst I would prefer a more upbeat quotation to open this year’s History pages, this aphorism seems particularly apt for the 2020-22 edition. A number of years in recent history seem to have repeated themselves, not least 1968 — a year of racial tension and protest in the USA and Britain, a particularly bad but largely ignored pandemic, but much better popular music. The Spanish flu of 1918-19 also seems a grim but obvious comparison. Let’s all hope the economic storm can be weathered so the 2020s aren’t a repeat of the 1930s.We should leave that rather dour thought and remember that History is always great to study (but not always to live through) and the future beckons. In tough times the study of History can still be fun, whether baking a chocolate Crusader Castle or on acting out the trial of Charles I. In a period in which the very purpose, value, and nature of History and remembrance of the past has been so sharply in focus, I am pleased that Emanuel students invariably approach the subject critically and thoughtfully. We are proud that the History department was able to play a role in the school’s LGBTQ+ Pride Week, and we should be proud too of the efforts of Miranda (U6SMJ), Mr Andrews, and the entire Archer Group for introducing the thought-provoking Emanuel Black History Week.

Mr S Jones (Head of History)

Hever Castle

In June 2022, the History department was finally able to resume its annual tradition of taking Year 9 to Hever Castle, having last visited in 2019. Below, Sara — now in Year 11 — reflects on her Year 9 experience of the trip in 2019...

Soon after we arrived at Hever Castle in 2019, we were led on a guided tour through the castle, crossing a moat in which ducklings were paddling and Koi fish swimming before entering the castle itself. We learnt about some of the previous owners, including the Boleyn family whose daughter Anne was wed to Henry VIII. The castle has had many owners, including the American millionaire William Waldorf Astor who added an Italian garden in the early 1900s. He also had a 38-acre lake constructed which took 800 men two years to dig! During the tour of the castle we saw many colourful Tudor tapestries and even some instruments of torture. Outside the castle in the grounds, we walked through the stunning Italian Garden which was filled with thousands of rose plants of all colours, as well as original sculptures imported from Rome and Pompei. The Garden was lovely and finished next to the beautiful man-made lake. My favourite activity of the day was navigating the water maze — a pond topped with panels rigged to splash water when stepped on. It was great fun but it did leave us soaking wet. We finished off the morning with lunch and ice cream and a quick stop at the adventure playground before heading back to Emanuel.

Sara (9-11DGA)

Normandy 2020

I was a bit concerned during the week before half term as Storm Ciara battered the South coast. By 4:30am on the morning of Friday 14th February, however, the weather had calmed down. Our Year 9 students had a smooth morning crossing to Caen, visiting Pegasus Bridge (where the first British paratroopers landed in the night of 5/6 June 1944) and settling into our accommodation a short walk from an enormous beach (part of the “Sword” landing beach on the 6th June 1944 — D Day).

On Saturday we headed to Arromanches, where the remains of the artificial ‘Mulberry’ harbour are still clearly visible and where we saw an amazing film about the Normandy campaign. We went on to Pointe du Hoc, where the huge shell holes, bomb craters and concrete German defences made a big impact. We returned to our base via Omaha Beach museum and cemetery, which was very sobering (you need only see the opening landing scene from Saving Private Ryan).

Sunday was our Caen day — there was a really good market with all kinds of stalls and the opportunity to practise our French, plus a visit to the ramparts of William the Conqueror’s 11th century castle, and to a stunning Norman Gothic church. We spent the afternoon at the Caen Peace Museum, probably the best coverage of the period between 1918 and 1945 that I know, which certainly provoked some excellent questions and interesting debates.

Monday was Bayeux day — the tapestry was amazing and Bayeux Cathedral, with its stained glass and its painting of Saint Thomas Becket, was very impressive. Free time in Bayeux to fill up on crepes, galettes, frites and fromage left us heading back to Caen for the late afternoon ferry. We caught the aftermath of Storm Dennis, making it a memorably ‘bumpy’ sea crossing to Portsmouth, eventually arriving back at Emanuel around 11:30pm having packed an awful lot into a very short time. Many thanks to everyone who went for being so helpful and making it such an enjoyable trip; both the accommodation manager and the coach driver congratulated us for keeping rooms and coaches in such good order, so well done all of you!

LGBTQ+ Pride Week

This year, Emanuel hosted its first ever Pride Week Years 7-9 also received lessons on the history of Pride. These lessons centred around the question, ‘To what extent did the Stonewall Riots aid LGBTQ+ acceptance?’, covering a range of topics surrounding Pride and LGBTQ+ rights, as well opening discussions on the effectiveness of LGBTQ+ activism, its potential failings, and what may still need to be done. It was sobering to think that when most of our teachers were at school (and when some of them were teaching) Section 28 prevented the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools. Year 8 were particularly intrigued by the fact that it was Henry VIII that introduced the first legal persecution against homosexuality in order to legitimise the Dissolution of the Monasteries!

Sam (U6SKR)

Leader & Founder of the Emanuel Pride Committee

Emanuel Black History Month

Race is one of the most difficult topics in the world to discuss, mainly because it is often considered to be an instant physical indication of divisions in humanity. The Cambridge Dictionary defines race as ‘one of the main groups to which people are often considered to belong, based on physical characteristics that they are perceived to share such as skin colour, eye shape, etc.’ Alongside physical characteristics, there are often cultural traditions in which people find a strong sense of identity. For many, it is not the colour of their skin or the shape of their eyes that help define who they are, but rather the culture in which they flourish and celebrate. Unfortunately, many others do not see it this way and, as a result, large sections of the human race have had to become highly aware of their physical appearance and how others’ perception of it will affect them in day-to-day life. I have organised Black History Month at Emanuel because I hope very much that people will take the opportunity to explore, to ask questions, to take the initiative to investigate a culture they are curious about or to reflect on a moment in history that has shocked them. You may feel anxious about asking someone something you think might be wrong or might offend them, but as long as you do so respectfully and are genuinely interested in hearing what they have to say, ask anyway. If you don’t ask, you won’t find the answer. There is much to lament and much to celebrate in black history, and in the history that is being made as you read this. Now is a perfect opportunity to start becoming a constructive part of it.